Fluorine

Quick Facts:
  • Fluorine has the atomic number of nine. It has nine protons, nine electrons, and ten neutrons.
  • It's average atomic mass number is 18.9984032. That means that it's mass number is 19.
  • Fluorine has a melting point of 53.5 Kelvin and a boiling point of 85 Kelvin.
  • Fluorine is classified as a nonmetal and is a gas at room temperature.
  • It's color is a pale yellow at room temperature.
  • Fluorine is the most reactive of all the elements. This makes it very hard to transport and to store.
  • Fluorine is a member of the Halogens in group 7A and in period 2.
  • Fluorine has 16 isotopes, 13 of which are radioactive.

History:
  • Fluorine was supposedly discovered around the year of 1670 by a group of chemists, using fluorspar (a mineral consisting of calcium floride in crystalline form), that were trying etch glass.
  • Ferdinand Frederic Henri Moissan was the first person to isolate and produce Fluorine in 1886. He is the official discoverer of the element.

Where is it found?
  • Fluorine is far too reactive to be found as a natural element. So, it is found in various compounds within minerals such as cryolite and fluorspar.
  • It was first found when a group of men found fluorspar in a cave in Russia.
  • It is very rare to find pure fluorine. So, most fluorine elements are found in fluorspar, which is much more common.

What are it's modern day uses?
  • Fluorine is used industrially to purify uranium for nuclear power stations.
  • Fluorine is also used in toothpaste to prevent tooth decay (Sodium Fluoride). Toothpaste costs about $4 for 6 ounces.
  • The plastic on the nonstick surface of many pans contains fluorine.
  • Fluorine can also be found in lightbulbs and computer chips. Light bulbs cost about $5 for a box of four lightbulbs.
Interesting Fact about Henri Moisson
  • He is considered the man who discovered fluorine and won the Nobel Prize in 1906 for his actions.





Bibliography:
Barbalace, Kenneth L. "Element Fluorine." EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 2008. 14
Nov. 2008 <http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/F.html>.

Gagnon, Steve. "Fluorine." Jefferson Lab: It's Elemental. 12 Nov. 2008
<http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele009.html>.

Saunders, Nigel. Fluorine and the Halogens. Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2004.